A rotating mill attached to the combine separates weed seeds from crops at harvest time and pulverizes the seeds so they cannot sprout new weeds. Left to Right: Debalin Sarangi, Nathan Zellmann, Ryan Mackenthun. In growing crops, much hinges on what happens down under — as in the soil. A McLeod County farmer is taking it a step further, exploring solutions from Down Under — as in Australia. Ryan Mackenthun operates a 2,200-acre corn and soybean farm with his brother-in-law, Nathan Zellmann. There, they’re piloting a new method of destroying weeds called harvest-time weed seed control, which relies on a rotating mill attached to the combine that separates weed seeds from harvested crops. The mill pulverizes weed seeds to the point where they no longer pose a threat to fields. “Being in the next generation of farmers, if you’re not looking for new ways of doing things, you shouldn’t expect different results,” says Mackenthun. “Working with the University of Minnesota is an opportunity
Today Brad and Dan explore the background and rationale behind nitrogen rate recommendations in Minnesota. How have Minnesota's N rate recommendations evolved over time? What data does the MRTN approach take into account? How are these N rates organized? TRANSCRIPT Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: What to know about the MRTN approach Are you overspending on fertilizer? Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator Corn fertilizer guidelines - U of M --- Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes. For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast . And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook , follow us on X (formerly twitter) , and visit our website . If you have questions or commen